Wings facing tough road stretch

Detroit Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader, left, flips the puck past Nashville Predators goalie Marek Mazanec (39), of the Czech Republic, for a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game on Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

We’ll find out just how good the Detroit Red Wings are on the road since two of their next three games are away from Joe Louis Arena.

And the test will come against three of the top teams in the Western Conference.

“We look forward to the challenge,” Justin Abdelkader said. “It’s a good measuring stick for us against some of the top teams in the West. This is always a tough place to play but it’s a fun building to play in.”

The test begins Thursday night in San Jose.

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The Sharks have just one regulation loss this season.

On Sunday, Detroit is at Anaheim, which has yet to lose on home ice in regulation.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Jimmy Howard said. “That old saying, don’t look too far ahead in the schedule because these are going to be three very tough games. We’re going to have to find ways to grind out some wins here.”

Sandwiched between is a meeting Saturday in Los Angeles against the Kings, who have lost five times in regulation on home ice.

“It’s just one of those things where sometimes teams are better on the road and not as good at home,” Abdelkader said. “We’ve got to figure it out. Hopefully the second half of the year, we can. We’ve got a lot of home games when we come back so hopefully we can get on track and start playing better. We usually been a good team at home but this year has been different.”

Detroit improved to 13-4-3 on the road after its 5-1 win over Dallas on Saturday.

“It’s a big challenge but at the same time it’s a big opportunity for us to kind of get things going,” Niklas Kronwall said. “We need to build off the last game in Dallas. Sure we didn’t play great, but we really took advantage of our chances and were able to score a few goals. Goaltending was great again for us. Hopefully that’s something we can keep building off.”

The Wings’ road record is a dismal 6-10-7.

“I think we keep it simple (on the road),” Howard said. “Right now on the road maybe we don’t try to do too much out there. We keep a simple game and it’s been working for us. It’s something maybe we should try at home.”

“For whatever reason we seem to keep it a little more simple and keep the puck out of our net,” Kronwall said. “We’ve been able to score a little more, I don’t know for what reason but it’s been working out fine for us so far on the road.”

Danny DeKeyser is expected to return to the lineup against the Sharks from a groin injury, while Darren Helm (groin) will be a game-time decision.

“(The break is) good, but we need guys back, that’s the whole key,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “When you get time off you need these guys to get back to playing. You can’t be as good a team as you’re capable of being without your people, it’s just impossible.

The Wings currently have 48 points, which ties them for fifth in the Eastern Conference heading into play Wednesday. They also are the first wild-card position.

“All those things help and then get everyone in the right frame of mind and get playing because we’re in a battle,” Babcock said. “All you got to do is look at the standings. We have no separation. We have more separation from the teams ahead of us than the teams behind us.”

This is the third and final four-day break the Wings have between break, not including the Olympic shutdown.

“We had a chance to regroup, but right now it’s time to get playing again,” Kronwall said. “Hopefully we can get on a little bit of a roll here. But everything’s going to start against San Jose.”

They’re 1-1-0 on those games after four days off this season, losing at home to Phoenix, 4-2, and beating Florida, 4-3, on the road.

Detroit spent three days in Phoenix before flying to San Jose.

“We’ve had a hectic month with everything,” Howard said. “To be able to get out of the cold and have a couple of days of some R & R is really refreshing.

“(Thursday) it’s about getting out there and getting your legs moving quickly,” Howard continued. “Sometimes when you have a little bit of a layoff that first period can be a little treacherous everyone is going to have to really focus in. You know it’s always going to be tough here the first 10 minutes. You got to find a way to weather the storm here and just try to get our legs under us.”

Send comments to chuck.pleiness@macombdaily.com and visit his blog at redwingsfront.wordpress.com